inkandsilver

Hello - I wear glasses to see distance. They are smallish frames and I find that I have to crane my neck up a fair bit to look through them, especially if I tuck a bit in the wind. This is not as much of a problem with my prescription sunglasses, which have more coverage, but this time of year I'm riding in the dark a lot. I can't wear contacts or afford new glasses, unfortunately. I was wondering if you glasses wearers have any tips. Does anyone improvise something to get their glasses higher on their face while riding? Or any other ideas?

On both of my bikes, my handlebars are at or just below saddle level, so it's not like I have an aggressive riding position. I have trekking bars on one bike and Mary clone bars on the other.

p.s. I *love* bike commuting -- am still fairly new to it -- and this forum has helped to make it possible for me. Thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom & experience.

old's'cool

I use a pair of older glasses that have vertically larger lenses.

weshigh

You can get some pretty inexpensive glasses if you purchase online. I think the only way to solve your problem is to get bigger glasses. Try out this site. It has a lot of links to places to get glasses for cheap. I have a few I've gotten for $50 or less. https://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/?m=0

AsanaCycles

maybe add to your nose pads, setting your glasses higher up for riding?
https://stores.nosepadking.com/-strse...ose/Detail.bok

just a thought.

Artkansas 

Recumbent!

ThermionicScott 

If I find my glasses sliding down my nose, I'll bend them a little to stay up. Riding with a flatter back for a while can let you relax your neck, too.

If it's enough of a problem, though, you may need to suck it up and raise your handlebars. No shame in that -- your commute won't be televised.

- Scott

CB HI

Is that because recumbents are much less expensive than a second pair of glasses?

SurlyLaika

Drugstores and your LBS probably sell eyeglass holders. It's just a cord with rubber ends for the tips of he eye glass legs. Some look dorkier than others. That solve the problem for $5.

MichaelW

The only frames I could find with a more vertical shape were from Flexon.

Snooker/billiard/pool players have special frames for low shots.

Ndw76

I just push my glasses back up every now and then. I am short sighted and too lazy to put my contacts in.

erg79

Croakies!

Yeah, I just push my glasses up when I get to a stop light or when it's clear around me or in front. I've tried riding with contacts in, and my eyes were not happy with that.

old's'cool

To clarify, my regular lenses are vertically very narrow, almost like Ben Franklin or granny glasses. The ones I use for riding are only slightly larger. If you like, I'll take pics & post. You'd be surprised how small the difference. Before I tried them the first time, I wasn't even sure they would work. I'd say I ride fairly low on the drops, FWIW. Take a look at my avatar. For those that like data, my bikes are set up with the sitbone part of the saddle typically 3-4" above the top of the stem.

inkandsilver

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

It's not so much a problem of them slipping down my nose, like croakies would fix. I have this issue even when they are pushed up all the way. I definitely get what you're saying, old's'cool, about the vertical dimension of the glasses. That's something I was struggling to describe when I wrote the original post. Mine aren't quite granny size, but they are relatively narrow top to bottom. I'm surprised to hear that you can comfortably see ahead with glasses and that much saddle-bar drop.

Working on a straighter back may help, and is probably a good idea anyway. The stick-on nose pads would help, I think, but it would be good if I could use the glasses in normal fit when I got to work. I'd prefer to not have to raise the bars, for a few reasons, but otherwise that would work. Any other ideas would be much appreciated.

Andy_K 

What we really need is a picture of you riding the bike, preferably taken from the side.

I've never had a problem with having to crane my neck, but my bars are even with the saddle, I have a shortish top tube and I usually ride on the hoods.

a1penguin

I have similar issue. I have enough astigmatism that I can't get large lenses because they would be very thick. And fashions being what they are, glasses are getting smaller. I'm convinced that the ****** bags who design these frames don't wear glasses. I would use the additional field of vision if I had it.

So.... my recommendation: lasik :-)

DG Going Uphill

I used to have the same issue. Now, when I go to try glasses, I check that I do not read under them and at the same time do not see over them in bicycle position (I pantomime in the store, which is fun for all). I've had to go a little longer in the lenses than I used to use, but not much. The trick is to find a really good optometrist with a wide selection. I've had the best luck with Dutch and German frames (maybe because they love their bikes?) to find something with good modern lines but still fully useful. Another tip, don't go plastic frames -- when you heat up from riding, the frames will warm enough to slip out of adjustment very quickly. My distance glasses have the latest auto tint and they work wonders -- fast change and essentially clear inside. They do change because of UV exposure, so on cloudy days, they will change, depending on where you live.

For sport riding, I have a pair of flip up Rudy's with an excellent insert for the prescription lenses. The flip up lenses are auto changing, which is great for where I live where you are in and out of trees a lot. If I didn't have such a strong prescription, I'd get the Rudy's that have only one set of lenses. When I had a 12 mile commute and would ride my fast bike, I'd where the sport glasses for the better coverage and to preserve my good glasses from sweat and road debris.

Mult47

When I ride my road bike, I use cheap eyeglass holders bought at the local drugstore. I get them as tight as I can and they do the trick.

sm1960

While checking what you can do for your eyes I found a solution for mine. I usually forgo my prescriptions (near sighted like you) and just wear a pair of tinted safety glasses from home depot (they work well). I can't read plate numbers when I do this, but see well enough otherwise. I just found this website for prescription safety glasses...preferable to glass when riding.

https://www.rx-safety.com/store/index.php?cPath=47

fietsbob

(+1) Elastic glasses retainers to keep them up?

save money for a bigger set of lenses, set aside a 'not driving to work, savings tin',
to put the savings in.

cpach

You can get glasses stupid cheap online. I got the pair I'm wearing now for about $9 shipped on a promotion from coastal contacts. https://www.retailmenot.com/view/coastal.com has information on their "first pair free" promotion. I otherwise buy glasses from optical4less for roughly $15-30. You probably should just get bigger glasses.